Projectile for firearms



Jan. 21, 1958 R. BEEUWKES, JR, ETAL 2,820,412

PROJECTILE FOR FIREARMS Filed Oct. 20, 1948 Fig. EL

' I Firj' c1; fi -4 Rainier EEEuwKasJJ I. dph'n P. MED Erna-ugh EdwurclN- Heqqe United States Patent'fi PROJECTILE FOR Reinier Beeuwkes, Jr.,Newton, John P. McDonough, Boston, and Edward N. Hegge, Westwood, Mass.

Application October 20, 1948, Serial No. 55,524

4 Claims. (Cl. 102-93) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by andfor the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to usof any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an improved projectile for firearms andparticularly to an improved gas seal and carrier for projectiles.

It is well known in the gun art that a projectile passiug through thebore of a firearm generates considerable heat due to the frictionbetween the jacket or rotating band of the projectile and the barrelsurface. In addition, certain types of bullets, particularly boat tailbullets or spherical projectiles do not efiectively seal the bore as theprojectile passes therethrough, hence there is undue escapage of gas bythe bullet. Not only does this cause erratic flight of the projectilebut there is also considerable loss of velocity of the projectile due toloss of power resulting in inaccuracy and rapid erosion of the bore.Still another drawback with prior art projectiles fired without apositive gas seal is the fact that the speed of the bullet can not bematerially increased without damage to the firearm itself because of thelimits to which the chamber pressure can be increased.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a carrier for aprojectile which effectively seals the bore of a firearm.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrier for aprojectile which not only elfectively seals the bore of the firearm butpermits any form of projectile or plurality of projectiles to be firedfrom the firearm with greatly improved accuracy.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a carrier for aprojectile which is self-lubricating thereby substantially eliminatingthe friction between the projectile and the bore of the firearm.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved carriermeans for projectiles whereby the fouling in the bore of a firearmbarrel is substantially eliminated.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferredembodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ogival projectilesubstantially enclosed in the plastic carrier.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the plastic carrier onlypartially surrounding the projectile.

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a plastic carriercompletely surrounding the projectile.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a plurality of projectilesenclosed by the plastic carrier.

This invention essentially consists of enclosing or substantiallyenclosing a firearm projectile in a plastic jacket, or cylinder. Thecylinder is molded to a diameter substantially equal to that of the boreof the firearm barrel. More than one type of plastic material isadaptable for use in such carriers but the preferred type of plasticfalls within the class known as methal methacrylate.

2,820,412 Patented Jan. 21, less "ice In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown amolded plastic carrier enclosed by the carrier as shown in Figs. 3 and4. In

Fig. 3 a spherical projectile 12 is fully enclosed by carrier 10 whilein Fig. 4 a plurality of such projectiles are fully enclosed by thecarrier. With the projectile so enclosed in the carrier, such assemblyis then loaded in. a firearm cartridge in the usual way.

The carrier 10 may be so constructed that such carrierwill disintegrateupon emergence of the projectile from: the bore of the barrel or suchprojectile may be of a, non-disintegrating type so that such carrierwill stay with. the projectile until such projectile strikes the target.A projectile so encased by carrier 10 can be fired from either a rifledor a smooth bore barrel with great accuracy provided of course thecarrier is of a size to properly fit the bore. The plastic material ofthe carrier is readily deformed and completely seals the bore of thebarrel. Thus the full force of the propulsion gases act on the base ofthe carrier to attain the maximum velocity with a given powder charge ofthe projectile.

The plastic material utilized for the carrier provides an extremely lowcoefficient of friction between the carrier and the barrel so that thereis little or no wear of the barrel. A further advantage of such materialresides in the fact that in view of the low coefficient of friction,greatly increased velocity of the projectile is thus easily obtained. Itshould be added that projectiles of any size or shape that can be moldedwithin a carrier of a given size can be easily and accurately fired bythe use of such carrier. Further, a plurality of projectiles may bereadily enclosed in any one carrier, the limitation being of course thesize of such projectiles.

In the preferred application of this invention the carrier disintegratesor decomposes in a manner similar to gun powder in the extreme heat ofthe blast as the projectile leaves the muzzle of the barrel. Thus theprojectile is launched in free flight through the air without restraintof rotating bands or riding grooves which greatly facilitates the studyof projectiles in flight.

It is also possible with a carrier of this type to fabricate or moldsuch carrier to fit the bore of a large caliber firearm while utilizinga projectile of a much smaller caliber in the carrier. Thus a largercaliber firearm can be readily adapted for use with a small caliberprojectile so that very high velocities may be achieved. With thismethod small bore shooting can be enjoyed in relatively thickly settledcommunities if desired.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that there is here provided a carrier for projectiles which notonly positively seals the gas in the bore of the barrel butsubstantially reduces undue wear of the bore surface and minimizes thefouling deposits on the bore surface. Velocities in excess of 5,000 feetper second are easily obtainable when using the carrier of thisinvention and further such carrier is readily and cheaply molded orfabricated and from material that is available in good supply.

We claim:

1. In a projectile for firing from a rifled barrel, a metallic bullethaving a maximum transverse dimension less than the bore of the barrel,and a generally cylindrical carrier of homogeneous acrylic resin of thetype that is hard and tough at normal atmospheric temperatures andhaving a diameter equal to the bore of the barrel, said bullet embeddedin said carrier, there being a clearance in all directions radially ofsaid carrier between 3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the 5said metallic bullet is completely inclosed Within the said acrylicresin.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the said metallic bulletis embedded at the rear end thereof in the said acrylic resin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HelmDec. 19, 1871 Dougan June 1, 1920 Brandt Sept. 11, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTSGermany Oct. 23, 1912 Great Britain Jan. 3, 1924' Germany Nov. 29. 1941

